Need some help with advise on getting a cheap boat

defiance · Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

Alright, i am currently wakeboarding behind a 12 ft 40 horsepower dingy (a gay little inflatable boat). Yea i know, it sucks but its all i got right now. And i have about $2,000 to spend, so i was thinkin about gettin a 17 ft inboard/outboard from like the mid 80's. I want a boat that can actually out out a wake so i can get some air and hopefully do some wake 2 wake. So can anyone help me out in advising me what to get? I know i cant affor any nice wakeboarding boat of anything like that, but will an old inboard/outboard work and be any good?

BIGMAC · Posted: Jun 12, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject:

Probably the best thing to do is search around your area for an I/O in your price range and take a test ride. If it works buy it. I have two friends with I/o's and both boats are probably worth 2000-3000 a piece. Both boat produce fun wakes that I can easily throw some inverts on. Good luck!

defiance · Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

so something like a 84-86 17 ft 130 hp. bayliner or something would work alright?

CDawg · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 130 City: Bellevue

Can you afford any kind of monthly payment, using the $2K as down money? You could get a mid-80s used inboard that would last you a lot longer than an i/o.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

There is not much in the area of a reliable boat in the $2k range. Expect to drop a lot of money in maintenance.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

$2k is going to be tough but you will be able to find some 12+ y.o. I/Os. I sold an '86 17 footer for less than that about 5 years ago. I wouldn't focus too much on the size of the boat - anything between 16-21 feet will be good, but would look at condition more than anything. Of course a 6 cyl or 8 cyl would be preferred to eventually pull you with ballast, but you aren't going to have the luxury of being too choosy.

When you look at boats that old, make sure the transom is solid. Push on it and see if it flexes. These old boats used wood everywhere and if that is rotted the boat is pretty much finished. I would also check the motor mounts by puting a wrnch to them and see if they are still biting. Doing a compression test is always a good thing and do not buy anything without lake testing it - that will be the only way you will see how the electronics, steering, and engine / trans work together.

Good luck - Just about any I/O runabout is capable of throwing a jumpable wake.

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

man, I could tell some horror stories about the I/O I bought for $3K... (short story - I now have $16K into it, plus $3K into new tools to work on it)... basic thing - know what you're getting into... know it runs well, know it's something you can get parts for... test all the basics. Know the condition of the wood floor, the seats, etc...